"Expectations are not stringent things," said her first questioner, smiling. "That waits upon your choice."
"They are horridly stringent, I think," said Constance.
"We shall all be disappointed, if you don't, Fleda, my dear."
"By wearing it 'well,' you mean making a good use of it?"
"And gracefully," said Mrs. Evelyn.
"I think I should say, then," said Fleda, after some little. Hesitation, and speaking with evident difficulty "such an a experience as might teach one both the worth and the worthlessness of money."
Mr. Carleton's smile was a sufficiently satisfied one; but
Mrs. Evelyn retorted
"The worth and the worthlessness! Fleda, my dear, I don't understand "
"And what experience teaches one the worth, and what the worthlessness of money?" said Constance; "mamma is morbidly persuaded that I do not understand the first of the second I have an indefinite idea, from never being able to do more than half that I want with it."
Fleda smiled and hesitated again, in a way that showed she would willingly be excused, but the silence left her no choice but to speak.